15 Amazing Summer Festivals to Experience in Tokyo This Year (2025)
What I love most about summer in Tokyo are its summer festivals, also known as matsuri. With their street stalls, lanterns and colorful decorations, matsuri are the perfect way to enjoy delicious Japanese street food, as well as its fascinating traditional culture and entertainment! I find that every matsuri I attend has its own unique atmosphere and energy that leaves a lasting impression. Here's a list of 15 of Tokyo's best summer festivals, with practical information and tips that should be useful if you're planning to attend in summer 2025.
21 Best Things to Do in Tokyo This Summer (2025)
Despite the heat and humidity, summer is an amazing time to be in Tokyo. There are plenty of seasonal activities, events and food to try, and many ways to beat the heat! Here is a list of 21 best things to do in Tokyo in summer, with plenty of suggestions for a fun and active time in Tokyo during this season.
A Nature Day Trip to Izu: Jogasaki Coast and Mount Omuro Itinerary
The Jogasaki Coast and Mount Omuro are two natural wonders of the Izu Peninsula located in Ito city that can easily be combined as a day trip from Tokyo, Atami or other nearby towns in the Izu Peninsula. If hiking along a scenic coastline and walking around the crater of an extinct volcano sounds intriguing to you, then this day trip itinerary should interest you!
Ito Guide: Best Things to Do, Where to Stay, Eat and More
Ito is a charming seaside hot springs town in Shizuoka Prefecture. It's a base to stay and explore the underrated but beautiful Izu Peninsula, which is packed with natural sites, onsen towns and other fun attractions to discover. In this article, I will share my favourite activities in Ito as well as some recommendations for accommodation and restaurants that I particularly enjoyed.
Suwa Itinerary: Complete Travel Guide to Naganoās Best-Kept Secret
Iām excited to introduce a place in Nagano Prefecture that quickly became one of my favorite destinations in Japan: Suwa. This peaceful area which surrounds Lake Suwa is unknown to most international travelers, but it offers so much. In this guide, Iāll share everything I learned from spending about 10 days in Suwa, from what to do to where to stay, to local food spots and lesser-known experiences that Iād highly recommend.
A Relaxing Weekend Getaway in Atami: An Easy Onsen Escape from Tokyo
After exploring destinations around Tokyo like Hakone and Odawara, I was looking for a relaxing getaway, an onsen town where I could unwind. Atami, nestled along the eastern end of the Izu Peninsula, seemed like the perfect choice. Known for its hot springs, scenic coastline, and fresh seafood, this seaside city has long been a favorite for Tokyoites seeking a quick and easy getaway from the city's hustle and bustle.
Nikko Travel Guide: Top Things to Do, Best Itinerary, and Must-See Attractions
Nikko is an easily accessible destination from Tokyo, ideal for a weekend or three-day getaway. As well as being home to a major temple complex, Nikko offers many natural wonders. Having visited Nikko four times, I have prepared the following guide to share with you detailed information that I hope will help you make the most of your trip to Nikko!
Tokyo to Enoshima: Your Guide to the Perfect Seaside Day Trip
An hour from Tokyo, Enoshima is a tiny and touristy island full of places to see and makes a great day trip from Tokyo, no matter the season. This post is based on my two day trips to Enoshima this year, in summer and fall.
Discover Two Stunning Hydrangea Spots Near Mt. Fuji by Lake Kawaguchiko
In this short article, I'm going to share with you two spectacular places to admire hydrangeas in Yamaguchi Prefecture, near Lake Kawaguchi. If you're planning to explore Fujikawaguchiko to see Mount Fuji in summer and you're also a flower lover looking for places to admire hydrangeas during your stay, read on!
Explore Sarushima: A Unique Day Trip Destination in Tokyo Bay
Located not far from the port of Yokosuka, in Kanagawa Prefecture, Sarushima is the only uninhabited island of Tokyo Bay. With its fort ruins, luxuriant forest, clear sea and barbecue and leisure facilities, it is great destination for a half-day or a full day trip from Tokyo. In this article, you can learn more about this hidden gem near Tokyo and get useful information to prepare for your own visit of Sarushima.
Guide to Kyotoās Gion Matsuri, One of Japanās Biggest Summer Festivals
Gion Matsuri (ē„åē„) is one of Japan's biggest summer festivals, taking place in Kyoto every year for a month from 1 July. I attended the main event of the Gion festival, the Yamaboko Junko, in 2022. It was a very memorable experience for me, that Iād like to share with you, along with a few tips on how to prepare for this great event.
Discover Kamakuraās Hydrangeas: Perfect One-Day Itinerary
Kamakura is a fantastic and popular excursion from Tokyo all year round, but particularly in June, when the rainy season transforms this ancient city into a hydrangea fairytale. In this article, you can read about the walking itinerary I followed on a day trip from Tokyo to admire the hydrangeas in Kamakura, but also to see many of the main sights of Kamakura while introducing some lesser-known spots that I particularly enjoyed.
Where to Admire Hydrangeas in Tokyo: Three Spots Not to Miss
For me, June in Tokyo is a source of excitement because it's synonymous with hydrangeas! Called ajisai (ē“«é½) in Japanese, these charming flowers colour Tokyo's temples, parks and gardens in large bushes. In this article, I will share with you three amazing places to admire hydrangeas in Tokyo, which are quite different from one another, but all very charming in their own way.
Kawazu Seven Falls: A Nature Lover's Hidden Gem on the Izu Peninsula
After Ito, let me introduce you to Kawazu, another hidden gem on the Izu Peninsula, in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. As a nature lover who spent a week discovering the hidden beauty of the Izu Peninsula, I was intrigued to see the Kawazu Seven Falls, located in the mountains above the coastal town of Kawazu. You can read about my experience in this article, as well as some recommendations if you are interested in visiting this wonderful natural site.
A Hiking Guide to the Magome-Tsumago Nakasendo Trail
A new article in which I share my experience of walking one of Japan's most popular hiking trails: the path between the two historic post towns of Magome and Tsumago on the Nakasendo in the Kiso Valley. What I particularly enjoyed about this hike in the Japanese countryside was the variety of landscapes, from rice paddies and bamboo groves to cedar forests and small rural villages.
Nakasendo Torii Pass - A Rewarding Hike From Yabuhara to Narai
Japan is full of magnificent hiking trails, such as the Torii Pass, which connects Yabuhara and Narai and is one of the most challenging sections of the ancient Nakasendo trail. Less well known than the Magome-Tsumago section of the Nakasendo, it nonetheless makes a lovely half-day hike, perfect for appreciating off-the-beaten-path Japan while getting some exercise on a quiet hiking trail.
Hi, Iām Sarah! I hope you enjoy reading my blog.